Looking back at Hurricane Gustav's record 211 mph wind gust
As we look back at the weather events of 2008, perhaps the most impressive record set during the year occurred during Hurricane Gustav, which pounded Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane in August. Gustav set a new world record for highest wind gust ever measured in a hurricane. As Gustav passed over the Paso Real de San Diego meteorological station in the western Cuban province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, on the afternoon of August 30, 2008, a wind gust of 211 mph (94.4 m/s) was recorded (it was originally pegged at 212 mph, but has been "downgraded" to 211 mph after an official review by the World Meteorological Organization). The powerful winds blew down the anemometer, and it is possible that higher gusts occurred after the instrument failed. Not only is this the highest wind speed ever measured in a hurricane, it is the second highest wind gust ever measured at a non-mountain location on Earth, and is the third highest wind gust ever measured on the surface of the planet. The highest wind gust in recorded history is the amazing 253 mph reading recorded on Barrow Island, Australia, during Tropical Cyclone Olivia in 1996. The second highest wind speed ever measured was 231 mph (370 km/hr) on the top of Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, on April 12, 1934, during passage of an extratropical storm. The fourth highest wind gust on record was the 207 mph gust measured in Greenland at Thule Air Force Base on March 6, 1972. The previous highest wind gust measured in a hurricane was 186 mph at Blue Hill Observatory, Massachusetts, during the notorious 1938 "Long Island Express" hurricane.
Figure 1. Anemometer used to measure the record 211 mph gust in Hurricane Gustav. Gustav's powerful winds flattened the instrument against the roof of the observing station. Image credit: Jose M. Rubiera Torres, Instituto de Meteorologia of Cuba.
Is this a believable record?
The instrument used for the measurement in Gustav was a Dines pressure tube anemometer mounted on the roof of the weather office. According to Jose M. Rubiera Torres of Cuba's Instituto de Meteorologia, "The graph is neat and the instrument was in perfect technical working condition. The wind peaked up to 340 km/h and then the anemometer mast fell over the concrete roof of the station's building, sharply interrupting the measurement. The graph [Figure 2], shows that wind gusts were increasing at a regular pace with time, until the instrument broke down when it got to the 340 km/h mark." Dines anemometers have a proven track record of reliability, and have been used in Cuba for over 60 years. A formal committee under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) certified the record in 2009.
Figure 2. Trace of the Dines anemometer used to measure the record 211 mph gust in Hurricane Gustav. Image credit: Jose M. Rubiera Torres, Instituto de Meteorologia of Cuba.
How did such a strong gust occur?
At the time Hurricane Gustav moved over the Paso Real de San Diego meteorological station, the storm was rated a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph, gusting to 185 mph. When the peak wind gust of 211 mph was measured at 22:35 GMT, the western eyewall of Gustav was over the anemometer site, as seen on Cuban radar (Figure 3). The town of Paso Real de San Diego is at an elevation of about 40 meters, and lies 25 km inland, about 12 km south of a rugged line of mountains up to 700 meters high. The counter-clockwise flow of air around Gustav's eyewall meant that the winds arriving at Paso Real de San Diego were forced to pass over these mountains first. The mountains probably focused and accelerated the winds through gaps between the peaks, and the air accelerated further as it rushed downhill under the force of gravity. Strong downbursts due to collapsing precipitation cores inside Gustav's eyewall probably contributed to the extreme gusts. When hurricanes make landfall, the intense thunderstorm cells that comprise the eyewall sometimes collapse suddenly, sending a downward cascade of intense winds to the surface. When this rush of wind hits the ground, it spreads out in all directions, forming a strong surface wind event known as a downburst. It has been theorized that some of the extreme damage noted in Florida during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 may have been associated with downbursts from collapsing eyewall thunderstorm cells. This behavior may also be responsible for some of the extreme damage in Mississippi from Hurricane Katrina. Animations of infrared satellite imagery available from the University of Wisconsin CIMSS Satellite Blog show that the eyewall of Gustav collapsed during passage over the high mountains to the north of Paso Real de San Diego, but this occurred after the world record wind gust was measured.
Figure 3. Radar image of Hurricane Gustav (top) at 22:25 GMT on August 30 2008, five minutes before the world record 211 mph hurricane wind gust was measured. The site of the Paso Real de San Diego meteorological station where the record was set is marked with a red dot. A topographic map (bottom) shows the line of mountains up to 1200 meters high that lies just north of the town. The counter-clockwise flow of air around the eye of Gustav brought the strongest winds of Gustav across the mountain range then downhill to Paso Real de San Diego. Radar image credit: Instituto de Meteorologia of Cuba. Topographic map image credit: Wikipedia.
Note: this post was updated in 2010 to reflect the official WMO review of Gustav's wind gust, plus the addition of the new World Record wind gust set in TC Olivia in 1996.
Jeff Masters
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With all due respect to you, I've never heard anyone say this.
By Fox44.com
Dec 22, 2008 - 11:22:23 PM Link
Fresh off an active hurricane season,
the predictions for the 2009 season have been released. Just when you thought hurricane season was officially over, Dr. Gray and Dr. Klotzbach, the leading forecasters for the Atlantic have come out with their 2009 forecast.
The images of Gustav and Ike are fresh in our memories, the damage took a huge toll on the city of Baton Rouge, many homes are still covered with blue tarps, and debris is still a problem in some areas.
As for 2009, hurricane experts currently predict an above-average tropical season and anticipate an above-average probability of a major hurricane making landfall in the U.S. The probability of a hurricane striking the Gulf Coast is also above average.
The forecast calls for 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 of those becoming major. In comparison to last year's forecast, they called for 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 of those becoming major. In actuality, the season ended with 16 named storms, 8 hurricanes, 5 of which became major.
The best way to stay safe is to be informed and prepared, so please don't wait until the last minute now that nature has proven that even the Capital City can be crippled by a hurricane.
For their extended range forecast, researchers say there's a 63% chance at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline. This is Dr. Gray's 26th year of forecasting hurricanes.
I never believe these forecasts
Their just an educated guess =D
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Erika
Fred
Grace
Henri
Ida
Joaquin
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda
Erika and Grace stand out for me.
Best prepare every year now like the Big un is a coming.
I know Gustav and Ike taught me to do a few things different this season coming.
Im researching and organizing a Better Blog entry for Hurricane Preparation,Evacuation,...and re-entry.
Its more a book maybe..LOL
What Ida replaced gutted me like a Fish in 2003.
AL, 15, 2008101606, , BEST, 0, 182N, 639W, 115(kts), 958, HU, 34, NEQ, 100, 100, 100, 60, 1009, 240, 10, 135, 0, L, 0, , 0, 0,
I will be interested also to hear what the NHC has to say when they issue their tropical cyclone reports for Ike, Gustav, Paloma, and Omar.
Hurricane Gustav scored a direct hit on the tiny Isle of Youth, about 60 miles off Cuba's south coast, as a Category 4 hurricane. There was major damage. Relief supplies are now being delivered. (Sept. 3)
Sunday August 30th 2008
Key west WSR-88D Radar Loop
(KBYX)
welcome back, Spicoli....
;)
The following is a minute-by-minute report of the extreme weather concerns in Victoria/Qualicum Beach/Courtenay British Columbia:
6:22 a.m. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that a Victoria man finds ice on his windshield! Curious neighbors gather to watch him scrape it off with a credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious "defrost" switch on dashboard can aid in process.
9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.
10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snow blower incident" of the Blizzard of '96, switch to orange uniforms.
Noon: Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidemic of sprained wrists related to viewer’s high-fiving one another.
1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counselors. Grief counselors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.
2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.
2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between the Island and the rest of the world. Times Colonist headline; "Mainland cut off from Civilization."
3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Harper announces Canada’s DART Rapid-response team can be on the ground within six months. “We can’t leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimeters of snow on its own," he tells Mayor Lowe. "Um, that's two to five centimeters, not two-two-five," replies the Mayor. The Prime Minister hangs up.
3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines.
4:10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.
4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortages lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay, where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.
4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Searchlights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.
4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across the region as word comes in that the first flakes of snow have fallen on the Malahat. False alarm! "Flakes” turn out to be nothing... An uneasy calm returns to the city.
5:40 p.m. Television reporter, Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warnings have been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in-August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish an emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu.
The widescreen is due to its HD format
Nice video's
Hmmm....Kate - I will certainly watch that one.
RE:69. Orcasystems - Now that is hysterical!
Surfmom, Futuremet - Hey y'all
Thanks surfmom
weather will stay nice for the rest of the week
we may have trouble next week, as a strong storm system forms
As far as im concerned its not wintery enough.
had 13 inches in the second/third week of december only to have a week of 40's and a 60 degree reading knock it down to about an inch. 3 to 5 inches on the way tonight/tomorrow and hopefully another few inches on friday/saturday
Windchills getting down to -10 tonight(ok, that's gonna hurt).
Whooohooo!! Go winter!!
Maybe you got the measurment type of wind confused? lol
EXTREMLY DANGEROUS CATOGORY 4 HURRICANE RITA'S WINDS HAVE NOW INCREASED TO 145 MPH (232 KM/H)
Seems to me that the 'I' named storms are most frequently some of the worst in terms of strength and or destruction.
1996; Hurricane Isidore Category 3
(3 year period of no 'I' destructive or powerful hurricanes.)
2000; Hurricane Issac Category 4
2001; Hurricane Iris Category 4
2002; Hurricane Isidore Category 3
2003; Hurricane Isabel Category 5
2004; Hurricane Ivan Category 5
(3 year period of no 'I' destructive or powerful hurricanes.)
2008; Hurricane Ike Category 4
The Moore, Ok winds were measured using a portable radar which is probably the only way to measure winds in EF4 and EF5 tornadoes. If the high winds don't knock out the equipment the debris being blown around will. An EF5 can pick up pieces of metal buildings as if they were pieces of paper.
I'm not sure if radar measured wind speeds have been compared for accuracy to other measurements, at least under conditions when other equipment can survive the winds.
"A" storms also seem to be some of the most destructive (not necessarily powerful). Examples:
1950: Able (Cat 4)
1951: Able (Cat 3)
1957: Audrey (Cat 4)
1972: Agnes (Cat 1, but included on this list because of the destruction)
1977: Anita (Cat 5)
1978: Amelia (TS, but produced over 40 inches of rain in San Antonio)
1980: Allen (Cat 5)
1983: Alicia (Cat 3)
1989: Allison (TS, but produced flooding across southeast Texas)
1992: Andrew (Cat 5)
1994: Alberto (TS, but produced one of Georgia's worst natural disasters due to flooding after it stalled)
2000: Alberto (Cat 3)
2001: Allison (this should speak for itself)
2004: Alex (Cat 3)
Happy New Year's in the event I don't get to swing by... :P
In recent years A storms have been lacking Arlene, Alberto, Andrea, and Arthur have all been TS and some of the storms on that list were not first storms or they formed in an inactive season so nothing formed until august when the Atlantic could support strong storms. Andrew fits both of these actually
Over the past ten years this is the tally of major hurricanes per letter (this tallies if unnamed storms were named so Wilma counts as Alpha)
A 2
B 2
C 2
D 2
E 2
F 5
G 3
H 1
I 6
J 1
K 3
L 2
M 2
N 0
O 1
P 1
R 1
S,T,V,&W 0
Alpha 1
Beta 0
Gamma 1
Delta> 0
Latest run indicates next week may get as low as 10F... Brrrrrr.
I live in VA where it's getting in the low 20s every day I'm glad I'm in Fl for the week.
Started snowing here 8 am est,this storm is going to explode this afternoon.
also the errily stock crash of 29 ryhms with crash of 09.
Yellowstone's still rumbling quite unusually. A 3.5 early this morning and a 2.5 about half hour ago:
Link
Also, they don't always update that list. If interested, here's a link to the live seismogram. Very active today. It updates whenever you refresh.
Link
Here's a link to all of them and other days. If you look at yesterday's, it has picked up quite a bit. The one from 12/27 is when it was really active and they started reporting on it... today's looks even MORE active. Take a look at them... gives a better "feel" for the activity. The one for the lake area is the one labelled "LKWY_SHZ_US ( Lake, Yellowstone Park, WY )"
Link
I hope the "SUPER VOLCANO" theory isn't true.
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